Condiment receptacle for food container

ABSTRACT

A condiment receptacle for use with a food container configured to hold a food item in the container&#39;s food chamber. The condiment receptacle attaches to or is integral with one of the container&#39;s upstanding sidewalls. The condiment receptacle comprises a front panel that extends outward from the sidewall by a first side panel and a second side panel when the receptacle is placed in the open position to define a condiment chamber for receiving a quantity of condiment therein. Each side panel has one or more fold lines to collapse the receptacle generally against the sidewall to place the receptacle in its closed position for transport and storage of the food container, which is also configured to collapse substantially flat. The condiment receptacle can also include a back panel that attaches to the sidewall with an adhesive material and/or a bottom panel, each of which further define the condiment chamber.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

The field of the present invention relates generally to containers forserving food and the use of condiments with the food contained therein.More particularly, the present invention relates to food containers thatare provided with a receptacle for receiving condiments therein for usewith the food served in the food container. Even more particularly thepresent invention relates to condiment receptacles that are attached toor integral with a sidewall of the food container.

B. Background

Many food products, particularly fast food products, are sold in singleserving food containers that are intended for the consumer to eat thefood directly out of the food container. Examples of such foods includefrench fries, french toast sticks and chicken strips. A variety of otherfoods are or may be served out of single serving food containers.Typically, such food containers are formed from a disposable materialthat is configured to be easily transported and stored prior to beingfilled with the food. Although a variety of different materials may beutilized, a very common material for food containers is cardboard or thelike. Standard single serving food containers have one or more generallyupstanding sidewalls and a bottom wall that define the container's foodchamber in which the food is placed prior to serving the food to theconsumer. Typically, the sidewalls and bottom wall are provided withfold lines that enable the food container to be folded substantiallyflat during transport and storage and then unfolded to provide anopening through which the food item can be inserted into the foodchamber. As well known to those skilled in the art, the ability to foldthe food container reduces handling and storage costs associated withthe food container.

Due in part to the nature of the food served in the single serving foodcontainers described above, many people enjoy eating the food item(s)with a condiment such as ketchup, syrup, gravy or other sauces,including barbeque, sweet and sour, mayonnaise, ranch dressing and thelike, depending on the type of food provided in the food container. Fortake out purposes, the condiment is provided in a separate package thatis given to the consumer when he or she purchases the food item.Typically, condiment packages are either small plastic bag or bag-likepackages that are cut or torn open to squeeze out the condiment or smallbox-like packages that have a removable top portion that is pulled offto allow access to the condiment. For the bag or bag-like condimentpackages, the user must either place the condiment directly on the fooditem, while the food is in the food container or with the food pouredout on a plate or napkin, or the user must place the condiment on aplate or napkin so that the food item can be dipped into the condiment.While the bag or bag-like packages are generally not configured for theuser to insert a food item, such as a french fry, into the package toget condiment on the food item, the box-like packages are typicallyconfigured for the user to insert the food item directly into the openbox-like package to get some condiment on the food item.

Though “fast” foods are often eaten at a person's home or at anotherplace where handling the condiment is not much of a problem, these foodsare very frequently eaten “on-the-go,” whether the person is riding in acar, walking, or standing or sitting while he or she waits for anotheractivity to be completed (i.e., while watching a sporting event). Forbag or bag-like condiment packages, the user must either pour thecondiment over the food in the food container or place the condiment ona napkin for dipping. Pouring the condiment over the food is generallynot preferred my most people, with the exception being those who liketheir food covered with the condiment (typically covered somewhatunevenly). Placing the condiment on a napkin, plate or other supportsurface is generally not preferred due to the tendency of the condimentto “bleed” through many on-the-go support surfaces and due to thedifficulties in trying to balance a napkin, plate or other supportsurface and the food container while he or she moves a food item fromthe container to the condiment and then to the mouth. While the box-likecondiment packages generally do not have the issue with regard tobleeding through the support surface, they still present a problem withregard to balancing the food container and condiment package in one handwhile using the other hand to move a food item from the food containerto the open condiment package to get condiment on the food item prior toplacing the food item in the mouth.

Over the years, various devices and food container configurations havebeen developed to attempt to solve the problem with regard to utilizingcondiments while eating food items in an on-the-go fashion. Modifiedcondiment packages have been provided that are configured to engage acooperatively configured food container so as to allow the user to holdonto the container with the condiment package attached thereto.Modifications to container packages that better assist the user insupporting existing condiment packages have also been provided. None ofthe foregoing prior art devices or systems provide an easy to usecondiment receptacle that is integral or attached to a food container.What is needed, therefore, is a new condiment receptacle that isadaptable for use with a wide variety of different types andconfigurations of food containers. The preferred condiment receptacleshould be configured so as not to prevent or otherwise hinder thedesired collapsing or folding of the food container for transport orstorage purposes. Likewise, the preferred condiment receptacle shouldnot interfere with the unfolding of the food container or placement offood therein when the food item is to be served to the consumer. Thepreferred condiment receptacle should be configured to be out of theconsumer's way when not needed and be easy to unfold and use when theconsumer desires to place a condiment therein. Preferably, the condimentreceptacle should provide a sufficiently sized condiment chamber forinserting a food item therein to obtain some of the condiment on thefood item. The preferred condiment receptacle should be readilyadaptable to existing food containers without requiring a change indesign of the containers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The condiment receptacle of the present invention solves the problemsand provides the benefits identified above. That is to say, the presentinvention discloses a condiment receptacle that is integral with orattached to a food container to provide a chamber for receivingcondiment so the consumer may dip his or her food items therein to get adesired amount of the condiment on the food item. In the preferredembodiments of the present invention, the condiment receptacle isadaptable for attachment to a sidewall of a wide variety of differentsizes and configurations of food containers, including those commonlyreferred to as food scoops, for serving a variety of different fooditems. The preferred condiment receptacle is configured to provide acondiment chamber that is sized and configured to receive virtually anytype of condiment and allow the consumer to dip his or her food itemtherein to obtain a desired amount of condiment on the food item. Thepreferred embodiment of the condiment receptacle is configured to notinterfere with the collapsing or folding of the food container, asdesired for transport and storage, and to not interfere with itsunfolding when desired to place the food container in condition forreceiving food in its food chamber. In the preferred embodiment, thecondiment receptacle remains collapsed against the sidewall of the foodcontainer unless the consumer desires to utilize the present inventionfor receiving a condiment, at which time the consumer unfolds thecondiment receptacle to define the condiment chamber, pours or otherwiseplaces the condiment in the condiment chamber and then dips one of hisor her food items into the chamber to place the desired amount ofcondiment on the food item. The preferred configuration of the condimentreceptacle of the present invention is readily adaptable to mostexisting food containers without requiring modification of the existingcontainer configuration, which configuration is often chosen so as to beidentifiable with the particular food company or product.

In one general aspect of the present invention, the condiment receptaclefor food containers, such as food scoops and the like, having one ormore generally upstanding sidewalls. The condiment receptacle comprisesa front panel, a first side panel attached to or integral with the frontpanel and a second side panel attached to or integral with the frontpanel in spaced apart relation to the first side panel. The first andsecond side panels are each configured to extend the front panel outwardfrom one of the container's sidewalls in the receptacle's open positionso as to define a condiment chamber for receiving a condiment thereinand to collapse so as to place the condiment receptacle in its closedposition. The condiment chamber is open at its upper end and closed atits lower end. In the preferred embodiment, each of the side panels haveone or more fold lines that allow the side panels to collapse to placethe condiment receptacle in the closed position. In one embodiment, aplurality of fold lines provide an accordion effect. In the embodimentwhere the condiment receptacle attaches to the container sidewall, thereceptacle preferably includes a back panel attached to or integral withthe side panels and the use of an adhesive material disposed between theback panel and the sidewall to secure the back panel, and therefore thecondiment receptacle, to the container sidewall. In a preferredconfiguration, the outward edge of each side panel curves generallydownwardly and inwardly toward the sidewall from the top edge of thefront panel to its bottom edge at the sidewall. In another embodiment,the condiment receptacle includes a bottom panel that is attached to orintegral with the front panel and the side panels, and the back panel ifit is utilized, to provide a condiment chamber that has a generallysquare or rectangular cross-section, thereby providing a larger spacefor the condiment and for dipping the food item therein.

In use, the food container is shipped with the condiment receptacle inits closed position. If the consumer desires to use a condiment with hisor her food item, that has been placed in the open food chamber, then heor she merely pulls on the top edge of the front panel to open thecondiment receptacle and allow access to the condiment chamber definedby the panels. The user pours, squeezes or otherwise places a quantityof condiment in the condiment chamber and then dips one of his or herfood items into the condiment chamber to obtain a desired amount ofcondiment thereon. By utilizing the condiment receptacle of the presentinvention, the consumer solves the problems of trying to hold acontainer or surface for the condiment while balancing the foodcontainer full of food items and then removing one food item to dip intothe condiment container or having to pour condiment over the food itemin the food container. With the condiment receptacle of the presentinvention, the consumer only has to hold the food container, withcondiment in the condiment receptacle thereon, with one hand and use theother hand to retrieve and dip a food item into the condiment.

Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is toprovide a condiment receptacle that provides the advantages set forthabove and overcomes the various disadvantages and limitations associatedwith presently available devices and systems for facilitating use ofcondiments with food items served in a food container.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide acondiment receptacle that is configured to be attached to the sidewallof a food container and receive a quantity of condiment into a condimentchamber defined thereby so the consumer may dip or otherwise insert oneof his or her food items into the condiment chamber and obtain a desiredamount of condiment on the food item.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide acondiment receptacle that attaches to a food container in a manner thatdoes not interfere with the ability to collapse or fold the foodcontainer for transport and storage or interfere with the ability of thefood service provider to easily unfold the food container when desiredto place food therein.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide acondiment receptacle that remains out of the consumer's way when he orshe does not desire to utilize the receptacle and is easily unfolded toopen its condiment chamber when he or she does desire its use.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide acondiment receptacle that attaches to a sidewall of a wide variety ofdifferently configured food containers without requiring anymodification to the existing shape and configuration of the foodcontainer.

The above and other objectives of the present invention will beexplained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and thedescription of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forthherein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form,construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presentlydescribed and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the bestmodes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a food container containing a food itemtherein with a condiment receptacle configured according to a preferredembodiment of the present invention shown attached to the front sidewallin its collapsed or closed position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the food container and condiment receptacle ofFIG. 1 showing the condiment receptacle of the present invention in itsopen position and receiving condiment from a condiment package;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the food container of FIG. 1 shownwithout the food item and with the condiment receptacle of the presentinvention in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the food container and condiment receptacle ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isolated exploded side view of the condiment receptacle ofa preferred embodiment shown in the open position and separate from thefront sidewall of the food container to illustrate the adhesive materialon the back panel of the receptacle;

FIG. 6 is an isolated side view of an alternative embodiment showing thecondiment receptacle in the open position and integral with the frontsidewall of the food container;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a collapsed food container showing thecondiment container of the present invention on the front sidewall inthe collapsed or closed position;

FIG. 8 is a front view of an alternative use of the condiment receptacleof the present invention showing the condiment receptacle in the openposition and attached to a side sidewall of the food container;

FIG. 9 is a back view of an alternative use of the condiment receptacleof the present invention showing the condiment receptacle in the openposition and attached to the back sidewall of the food container;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an alternative embodiment of the condimentreceptacle of the present invention in the open position showing use ofa substantially flat bottom panel with a bottom fold line thereon;

FIG. 11 is an isolated side view of an alternative embodiment of thecondiment receptacle of the present invention showing use of a pluralityof fold lines on the side panels to obtain an accordion effect;

FIG. 12 is a front view of a food container having the condimentreceptacle of FIG. 11 shown in the closed position; and

FIG. 13 is a back perspective view of an alternative embodiment of thecondiment receptacle of the present invention showing the use of a pairof back members for attachment to the food container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given likenumerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of thepresent invention, the preferred embodiments of the present inventionare set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are merelyillustrative of a preferred embodiment and represents one of severaldifferent ways of configuring the present invention. Although specificcomponents, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, itshould be understood that a number of variations to the components andto the configuration of those components described herein and in theaccompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and functionof the invention set forth herein. For instance, although the figuresand description provided herein generally refer to the use of a foodscoop type of food container used to hold a plurality of french fries,those skilled in the art will readily understand that this is merely forpurposes of simplifying the present disclosure and that the presentinvention is not so limited, as the present invention is equallyapplicable for use with a wide variety of different types of foodcontainers that are utilized to hold a variety of different types offood.

A condiment receptacle that is manufactured out of the components andconfigured pursuant to a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis shown generally as 10 in the figures. As shown in the figures,condiment receptacle 10, also referred to as the “Flip 'N Dip,” isutilized with a food container 12 that is configured to hold one or morefood items 14, such as the plurality of individual french fries 16 shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, and with a condiment 18, such as the ketchup shown inFIG. 2, that is dispensed from a condiment package 20 or other condimentstorage devices (including those that include a spout or other pouringmechanism). As discussed in more detail below and best shown in FIGS. 5and 6, condiment receptacle 10 can be configured to securely attach tofood container 12 or be integral therewith. For illustration anddescriptive purposes, the condiment receptacle of the present inventionis shown in use with a food scoop type of food container, such as thatset forth in U.S. Pat. No. 6,050,482 to Cai, which is commonly utilizedto hold french fries 16 as the food item 14. As with the typical foodcontainer, food container 12 has a plurality of generally upstandingsidewalls, including front sidewall 22, back sidewall 24 and opposingfirst 26 and second 28 side sidewalls, and a bottom wall 30 that definea food chamber 32 which is open at its upper end 34 and substantiallyclosed at its lower end 36 for receiving food item 14 therein. Thetypical food container 14 is made out of cardboard, paperboard orsimilar materials and configured with at least one side fold line 38 oneach of side sidewalls 26 and 28 and at least one bottom fold line 40 onbottom wall 30 that enables food container 14 to be folded or collapsedto a substantially flat condition, as shown in FIG. 7, for ease oftransport and storage. Prior to use, the food supplier unfolds thecollapsed food container 14 and scoops or otherwise places a pluralityof french fries 16 into food chamber 32 for serving to the consumer.

As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, foodcontainer 12 can be provided in a variety of different configurationsand shapes and be made out of variety of different materials. Likewise,food container 12 can be utilized to hold or serve a variety ofdifferent food items 14, including chicken strips, french toast sticks,egg rolls and the like, and condiment receptacle 10 can be utilized tohold a condiment 18 that is appropriate for food item 14 or desired bythe consumer to be used with food item 14. As known to those familiarwith the food industry, many food suppliers utilize food containers 12of a particular shape or design as a way for consumers to recognize thefood suppliers' food products. As such, being adaptable for use withmost existing food containers 12 is an important consideration forcondiment receptacle 10 so as to enable the food suppliers to continueto utilize their desired food containers 12.

As discussed above, the use of ketchup 18 with french fries 14 when theconsumer is eating in an on-the-go manner presents a problem with regardto how to dip the french fries 14 in the ketchup 18. The usualalternatives are to pour the ketchup 18 on a napkin or like surface orto pour it over the french fries 14 while they are in the food container12. The former has problems with regard to the ketchup 18 bleedingthrough the napkin and/or the napkin being dropped or blown away and thelatter has a problem with regard to having an unequal distribution ofketchup 18 on the individual french fries 16 and the likelihood ofgetting ketchup 18 on the consumer's hand as he or she removesindividual french fries 16 from the food container 12. Even if asuitable dish or other condiment-receiving container or surface isavailable, the consumer still has to balance this container and the foodcontainer 12 in one hand while he or she attempts to remove a singlefrench fry 16 from the food container 12 and dip it into the ketchup 18.As familiar to those who have attempted this activity, it can result inspilling the food item 14 on the ground and/or the consumer.

Condiment receptacle 10 solves the foregoing problem by providing theconsumer with a place in which to put a quantity of condiment 18 thatdoes not require an extra item to be held so that he or she may remove asingle food item 16 from the plurality of food items 14 and dip it intothe condiment 18 in a manner that allows a controlled amount ofcondiment 18 to be placed on the food item 16. In the embodiment shownin FIGS. 1 through 7, condiment receptacle 10 is placed on the frontsidewall 22. In alternative embodiments, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,condiment receptacle 10 is placed on one of the side sidewalls (i.e.,second side sidewall 28 in FIG. 8) or on the back sidewall 24 (FIG. 9).

In the preferred embodiment, condiment receptacle comprises a pluralityof generally upstanding panels, namely at least a front panel 42, afirst side panel 44 and a second side panel 46, which is in spaced apartrelation to the first side panel 44. Each of the first 44 and second 46side panels are attached to or integral with front panel 42, as shown inthe figures. First 44 and second 46 side panels are configured to extendfront panel 42 generally outwardly from the sidewall (i.e., frontsidewall 22) of food container 12 to place condiment receptacle 10 in anopen position, shown as 48 in FIGS. 2 through 6, so as to definecondiment chamber 50, best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, that is open at theupper end 52 and closed at the lower end 54. In the preferredembodiment, condiment receptacle 10 does not have a bottom panel.Instead, as exemplified in FIG. 2, when condiment receptacle is in theopen position 48 front panel 42 extends both downwardly and inwardlytoward front sidewall 22 where it is closed at the lower end 54 thereof,such that front panel 42 effectively provides the bottom wall forcondiment receptacle 10. With condiment receptacle 10 in the openposition 48, condiment 18 can be poured, squeezed or otherwise placedinto condiment chamber 50 from condiment package 20, as shown in FIG. 2.

As set forth above, food container 12 is configured to be placed in asubstantially flat condition during transport or storage to reduce spaceand the likelihood of damage to food container 12. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, condiment receptacle 10 is alsoconfigured to lay substantially flat against front sidewall 22 (in thepreferred embodiment) of food container 12 when condiment receptacle 10is in its closed position, shown as 56 in FIGS. 1 and 7. To facilitatecondiment receptacle 10 laying flat against front sidewall 22, first 44and second 46 side panels are each provided with one or more fold lines58 that allow the side panels 44 and 46 to effectively buckle outwardinto the closed position 56. In one preferred embodiment, first 44 andsecond 46 side panels contain a plurality of fold lines 58 thateffectively result in an accordion-type of movement (i.e., no bucklingoutward or inward), as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In eitherconfiguration, when condiment receptacle 10 is in its closed position56, it will lay substantially flat against front sidewall 22 or othersidewall on which it is placed. Preferably, top edge 58 and bottom edge60 of front panel 42 will be substantially abutting the subject sidewall(i.e., front sidewall 22) when condiment receptacle 10 is in its closedposition 56. In addition, it is also preferred that the various foldlines 58 on condiment receptacle 10 be configured such that the consumercan pull on top edge 60 of front panel 42 to easily extend front panel42 outward so as to place condiment receptacle 10 in the open position48 and, if desired, push front panel 42 inward to return condimentreceptacle 10 to the closed position 56.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, condiment receptacle 10 of the presentinvention can be configured for attachment to front sidewall 22, as anexample, or be manufactured integral therewith. In the attachmentconfiguration of FIG. 5, condiment receptacle has back panel 64 thatattaches to or is integral with side panels 44 and 46 in a positionsubstantially opposite front panel 42, at least at the upper end ofcondiment chamber 50. In the preferred embodiment, when condimentreceptacle 10 is in its closed position 56 the front panel 42 generallyabuts the back panel 64. Disposed between back panel 64 and frontsidewall 22 is a sufficient quantity of adhesive material 66 of a typethat provides a secure attachment between back panel 64 of condimentreceptacle 10 and the mounting surface, such as front sidewall 22, offood container 12. As well known to those skilled in the art, adhesivematerial 66 can be a glue or glue-type substance or it can be a tape(i.e., double sided tape) that is placed on back panel 64 and/or firstsidewall 22 during the manufacturing process. An example of an adhesivematerial 66 is the glue substance utilized by a number of food suppliersto attach game pieces or other materials to the outside surface of thefront sidewall 22 of the food container 12. This same adhesive material66 can be utilized for condiment receptacle 10 and the process ofattaching condiment receptacle 10 to front sidewall 22, or othersidewall, can be substantially the same process used to attach the gamepiece to food container 12, therefore requiring few changes to existingmaterials and processes. In the integral configuration of FIG. 6, theback of condiment receptacle 10 is provided by the outer surface of thesidewall, such as front sidewall 22, where condiment receptacle 10 islocated. This embodiment will require a modification to the blankutilized to form food container 12 to provide for an outwardly extendingportion that defines the front panel 42 and side panels 44 and 46necessary to form condiment chamber 50 to receive condiment 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 5-6, in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention the outward edge 67 of both side panels 44 and 46extends generally downwardly and inwardly from the top edge 60 of frontpanel 42 to the bottom edge 62 where it connects to front sidewall 22.In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 10, condiment container 10has a generally square or rectangular configuration that includes abottom panel 68 with one or more bottom fold lines 70. When thecondiment receptacle 10 is in the open position 48 shown in FIG. 10, thebottom edge 62 of front panel 42 will move outward from the frontsidewall 22 until bottom panel 68 is fully extended to provideadditional space for receiving condiment 18 and for dipping one of thefood items 14, such as a french fry 16, in the condiment 18. Bottom foldline 70 is configured to facilitate collapsing condiment container 10 toits closed position 56. In one embodiment, a single bottom fold line 70is used and the bottom panel 68 buckles outward similar to that shownfor the side panels 44 and 46 in FIG. 7. In another embodiment, aplurality of fold lines 70 are utilized and bottom panel 68 moves in anaccordion fashion similar to that discussed above. The condimentreceptacle 10 of this embodiment results in a condiment chamber 50similar in configuration to many of the rectangular shaped condimentpackages 20 currently in use to hold sauces and the like (i.e., forchicken strips, etc.).

In yet another alternative embodiment, condiment receptacle 10 includesa pair of back members 72 that extend inward toward condiment chamber 50from side panels 44 and 46, as shown in FIG. 13, and attach to thesupport surface (i.e., front sidewall 22). Adhesive material 66 on backmembers 72 is utilized to attach the condiment receptacle 10 of thisembodiment to front sidewall 22 or one of the other sidewalls. Exceptfor the area spanned by back members 72, the remaining back wall of thecondiment receptacle 10 is provided by the surface on which condimentreceptacle 10 attaches, similar to the integral embodiment discussedabove. As with the other embodiments, side panels 44 and 46 are providedone or more fold lines 58 to facilitate condiment receptacle 10 beingplaced in the closed position 56.

In use, condiment receptacle 10 will typically be placed on foodcontainer 12 during the manufacturing process and shipped to the foodsuppliers on the collapsed food container 12 with condiment receptacle10 in its closed position 56. The food supplier will open the foodcontainer 12 in the same manner as without condiment receptacle 10 andplace a food item 14, such as a plurality of french fries 16, in thefood chamber 32 of food container 12 for serving to the consumer withone or more condiment packages 20 containing condiment 18 appropriate ordesired for food item 14. If the consumer desires to have condiment 18with his or her food item 14, particularly but not exclusively if he orshe is eating on-the-go, then the consumer will pull on the top edge 60of condiment receptacle 10 to extend front panel 42 and side panels 44and 46 outward to place condiment receptacle 10 in its open position 48and form condiment chamber 50. A quantity of condiment 18 can then bepoured, squeezed or otherwise placed into condiment chamber 50. Theconsumer can then dip or otherwise direct one of the food item 14, suchas a french fry 16, into condiment chamber 50 to obtain a desired amountof condiment on the food item 14. With the condiment 18 in the condimentchamber 50, the consumer can hold the food container 12 in one hand anduse his or her other hand to grasp one of the food items 14 for dippinginto the condiment 18 without having to worry about balancing separateitems. This will reduce the likelihood of spilling condiment on theconsumer or his or her clothes and improve the consumer's enjoyment ofthe food item 14.

While there are shown and described herein specific forms of theinvention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatthe invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to variousmodifications and rearrangements in design and materials withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, itshould be noted that the present invention is subject to modificationwith regard to any dimensional relationships set forth herein andmodifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. Forinstance, there are numerous components described herein that can bereplaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish theobjectives of the present invention.

1. A condiment receptacle for use with a food container having one ormore upstanding sidewalls, said condiment receptacle comprising: a frontpanel; a first side panel attached to or integral with said front panel;and a second side panel attached to or integral with said front panel inspaced apart relation to said first side panel, each of said first sidepanel and said second side panel configured to extend said front paneloutward from one of said one or more upstanding sidewalls to place saidcondiment receptacle in an open position and configured to collapse soas to place said condiment receptacle in a closed position, said frontpanel, said first side panel and said second side panel defining acondiment chamber for receiving a condiment therein when said condimentreceptacle is in said open position, said condiment chamber open at anupper end and closed at a lower end thereof.
 2. The condiment receptacleaccording to claim 1, wherein each of said first side panel and saidsecond side panel comprise means for folding located thereon, saidfolding means configured to substantially fold each of said first sidepanel and said second side panel so as to place said condimentreceptacle substantially flat against said sidewall.
 3. The condimentreceptacle according to claim 2, wherein said folding means is one ormore fold lines on each of said first side panel and said second sidepanel.
 4. The condiment receptacle according to claim 3, wherein saidfolding means comprises a plurality of fold lines on each of said firstside panel and said second side panel, said plurality of fold linesconfigured to substantially accordion said first side panel and saidsecond side panel.
 5. The condiment receptacle according to claim 1further comprising a back panel attached to or integral with each ofsaid first side panel and said second side panel opposite said frontpanel, said back panel attached to said sidewall and configured tofurther define said condiment chamber when said condiment receptacle isin said open position.
 6. The condiment receptacle according to claim 5,wherein said front panel generally abuts said back panel when saidcondiment receptacle is in said closed position.
 7. The condimentreceptacle according to claim 5 further comprising an adhesive materialdisposed between said back panel and said sidewall, said adhesivematerial configured to securely attach said back panel to said sidewall.8. The condiment receptacle according to claim 5 further comprising abottom panel attached to or integral with each of said front panel, saidfirst side panel, said second side panel and said back panel to furtherdefine said condiment chamber.
 9. The condiment receptacle according toclaim 8, wherein said bottom panel comprises one or more bottom foldlines, said bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottom panel whensaid condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position.
 10. Thecondiment receptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a pair ofback members, one of said back members attached to said first side paneland the other of said back members attached to said second side panel,each of said back members attached to said sidewall.
 11. The condimentreceptacle according to claim 1 further comprising a bottom panelattached to or integral with each of said front panel, said first sidepanel and said second side panel to further define said condimentchamber.
 12. The condiment receptacle according to claim 11, whereinsaid bottom panel comprises one or more bottom fold lines, said bottomfold lines configured to fold said bottom panel when said condimentreceptacle is placed in said closed position.
 13. The condimentreceptacle according to claim 1, wherein said front panel has a top edgeand a bottom edge, said bottom edge of said front panel in abuttingrelation to said sidewall when said condiment receptacle is in said opencondition and said closed condition, an outward edge of each of saidfirst side panel and said second side panel extending generallydownwardly and inwardly from said top edge toward said bottom edge atsaid sidewall.
 14. A condiment receptacle for use with a food containerhaving one or more upstanding sidewalls, said condiment receptaclecomprising: a front panel; a first side panel attached to or integralwith said front panel, said first side panel having one or more foldlines; a second side panel attached to or integral with said front panelin spaced apart relation to said first side panel, said second sidepanel having one or more fold lines, each of said first side panel andsaid second side panel configured to extend said front panel outwardfrom one of said one or more upstanding sidewalls to place saidcondiment receptacle in an open position and configured to collapse soas to place said condiment receptacle in a closed position; a back panelattached to or integral with each of said first side panel and saidsecond side panel opposite said front panel, said front panel, saidfirst side panel, said second side panel and said back panel defining acondiment chamber for receiving a condiment therein when said condimentreceptacle is in said open position, said condiment chamber open at anupper end and closed at a lower end thereof; and an adhesive materialdisposed between said back panel and said sidewall, said adhesivematerial configured to securely attach said back panel to said sidewall.15. The condiment receptacle according to claim 14, wherein said foldingmeans comprises a plurality of fold lines on each of said first sidepanel and said second side panel, said plurality of fold linesconfigured to substantially accordion said first side panel and saidsecond side panel.
 16. The condiment receptacle according to claim 14further comprising a bottom panel attached to or integral with each ofsaid front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and saidback panel to further define said condiment chamber, said bottom panelcomprising one or more bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottompanel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position.17. The condiment receptacle according to claim 14, wherein said frontpanel has a top edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge of said frontpanel in abutting relation to said sidewall when said condimentreceptacle is in said open condition and said closed condition, theoutward edge of each of said first side panel and said second side panelextending generally downwardly and inwardly from said top edge towardsaid bottom edge at said sidewall.
 18. A food container for holding afood item, comprising: a plurality of upstanding sidewalls; a bottomwall attached to at least two of said upstanding sidewalls to define afood chamber open at an upper end and substantially closed at a lowerend thereof, said food container configured to lay substantially flatwhen said food chamber is not utilized to hold said food item; and acondiment receptacle attached to one of said one or more sidewalls, saidcondiment receptacle comprising a front panel, a first side panelattached to or integral with said front panel and a second side panelattached to or integral with said front panel in spaced apart relationto said first side panel, each of said first side panel and said secondside panel having at least one fold line configured to extend said frontpanel outward from said sidewall to place said condiment receptacle inan open position and configured to collapse so as to place saidcondiment receptacle in a closed position, said front panel, said firstside panel and said second side panel defining a condiment chamber forreceiving a condiment therein when said condiment receptacle is in saidopen position, said condiment chamber open at an upper end and closed ata lower end thereof.
 19. The condiment receptacle according to claim 18,wherein said condiment receptacle further comprises a back panel and anadhesive material disposed between said back panel and said sidewall,said back panel attached to or integral with each of said first sidepanel and said second side panel opposite said front panel andconfigured to further define said condiment chamber when said condimentreceptacle is in said open position, said adhesive material configuredto securely attach said back panel to said sidewall.
 20. The condimentreceptacle according to claim 18, wherein said condiment receptaclefurther comprises a bottom panel attached to or integral with each ofsaid front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel and saidback panel to further define said condiment chamber, said bottom panelcomprising one or more bottom fold lines configured to fold said bottompanel when said condiment receptacle is placed in said closed position.